Scaling the US workforce to deliver on the promise of integrated photonics

The US lags behind other major economies in producing STEM talent, and STEM students in the US exhibit limited interest in microelectronics and photonics. Reversing these trends, quickly, is essential for retaining US technology leadership in, and supply chain resilience of, advanced technologies. With the support of the Arizona Commerce Authority, we are developing a scalable solution for workforce development that supports rapid adoption by all kinds of training providers, no matter where they are located. The focus is on providing industry-informed, modern, modular, adaptable and accessible materials via two digital platforms – SemiSphereTM for sharing curriculum modules among instructors, and SemiXperienceTM for sharing AR / VR content with learners. Use of AR / VR content provides students with access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment that they will not otherwise be able to access. By allowing instructors to adapt content to meet the needs of their students and their regional industry partners, we aim to rapidly accelerate the training of STEM workers who are career-ready for the US microelectronics and photonics sector.